The New Jersey Chamber of
Commerce has announced that State Senate President Donald
T. DiFrancesco will be one of four recipients of its 1997
Outstanding Governance Award.

Senator DiFrancesco represents
the 22nd Legislative District which includes Westfield,
Scotch Plains, Fanwood and Mountainside.

Senator Wayne Bryant and
Assemblymen Alex DeCroce and Anthony Impreveduto also
were selected.

The awards will be given out
today, Thursday, September 18, at the State
Chambers annual legislative dinner at the Atlantic
City Convention Center.

"Throughout my political
career, Ive always worked with the business
community to create and protect jobs in the state and to
improve the economic opportunities of the people of New
Jersey," said Senator DiFrancesco. "I will
continue to work to make New Jersey a better place to
live and do business," he added.

Inaugurated in 1995, the
Outstanding Governance Award is presented annually to
four lawmakers  a Republican and a Democrat in both
the Senate and the Assembly  who have distinguished
themselves as business advocates.

The award winners were selected
by the State Chamber with input from several
Trenton-based organizations.

In selecting Senator
DiFrancesco, Chamber Vice President of Government
Relations Jim Leonard cited the Senate Presidents
work on the dredging problem that threatens Port Newark.

"The dredging of our ports
is perhaps the most critical challenge facing the Garden
States economic prosperity," said Mr. Leonard.
"By creating the bonding mechanism which will
provide the resources to ensure the ongoing viability of
our ports, he has done the state an incredible
service."

The Senator also received high
marks for his leadership in shepherding energy
deregulation through the Senate and into law.